In the News: The Global Effort for Gay Rights

from The Atlantic.

In mid-December, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) released a little noticed report...discussing the issue of discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Requested by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in June 2011 when the council passed the first ever UN resolution supporting gay rights, the UNHCHR report symbolizes a critical milestone regarding the protection of fundamental lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) human rights globally.

In particular, the report notes concern over different types of discrimination and violence targeting LGBT people including "killings, rape and physical attacks, torture, arbitrary detention, the denial of rights to assembly, expression and information, and discrimination in employment, health and education." The report also mentions the issue of "forced marriages," where certain members of the LGBT community are forced to endure outrageous attempts to change their sexual orientation.

The report also takes special care to highlight the international legal basis for protecting rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This includes references to blanket nondiscrimination clauses within the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights--all accords that enjoy nearly universal support within the international community.

Furthermore, the report dovetails incredibly bold words delivered by Secretary of State Clinton on the same topic this month in Geneva, Switzerland. Declaring, "Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights," Clinton asked that countries merely accept the right for LGBT individuals to exist and that they be afforded a dignified space in society. During her speech, she also announced the establishment of an innovative Global Equality Fund, including $3 million in seed money, to help civil society organizations promote LGBT nondiscrimination as well as a new policy linking U.S. foreign aid to countries' LGBT rights records.

Nevertheless, the UNHCHR report concludes, "Governments and intergovernmental bodies have often overlooked violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity." Worse, being gay remains illegal in seventy-six countries, including some nations on the UN Human Rights Council. In five states, gays also face capital punishment.

Understanding the plight that millions of LGBT people, as well as those individuals perceived to fall within that category, face on a daily basis UN member states should take care to implement the recommendations of the UNHCHR's report. Among many important steps, these include investigating killings and violence against gays and lesbians, passing national antidiscrimination legislation, and implementing sensitivity and training programs for public sector actors liked police, prison officials, and border guards.

Read the full article from The Atlantic.
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